I wanted to allow at least two months before I make any judgements about this experiment. It has now been ten weeks since the mailing went out and I have a grand total of $3.00 to show for it. Three responses with cash. I thought that perhaps I would get at least two or three more from the efforts of the two that have responded so far, but no…

As most of us has suspected, this does not generate a lot of money for participants – at least not for me…

Why not? I can think of a couple of reasons to begin with. First of all, the numbers DO add up. If you received X per cent response rate, and all of the participants followed the plan exactly, it would generate money. It appears from this experiment that you are lucky to get ONE percent response, much less 15-20 percent…

Secondly, even if there were many more people that decide they want to give this a try, there are no controls that prohibit them from either NOT sending the individuals on the list the dollars, or just as likely, many might create a new list.

My recommendation? If you get this letter, save yourself time and money and toss it… Unless there is some sort of control or monitoring, this plan will probably do no better for you than it has done for me so far.

I will come back to this experiment blog and report anything else as it happens…

Well, it’s been about five weeks since I sent out my 200 piece mailing. Since my last update (two weeks ago) I have not received anymore dollar bills in the mail. What does this mean? Well, first of all, it indicates to me that the person that originally wrote this letter dramatically exaggerated that he got a 9-19% response from his letter. I got a 1% response so far. I have heard from some of you that a 1% response is considered average in the direct mail business. A 1% response sending out just 200 letters like the letter in our experiment suggests will NOT get you your money back. At this rate, I will be surprised if I get enough money back to take my wife to TACO BELL much less OUTBACK for dinner…

It has just been a little over a month, so to call this a legitimate experiment, we should wait another 6-8 weeks before making serious judgement calls. It has been brought to my attention that there MAY be more than two people from my mailing list that are participating; they just did not send the one-dollar bills to the people on the list like they were supposed to. I must admit that this concept intrigues me, though. Call me a sucker, but I know the math works if you can find a way to make sure the system is cheat proof. I am investigating something else that shows some promise. I will report more later after my investigation.

Well, It’s been two weeks since my last post. There hasn’t been very much to report so far, but I HAVE received several more responses. As of yesterday, I have received 7 responses. Five of them were other chain letters, and two were actual responses with dollar bills in them. So, in the four weeks since the beginning of this experiment, I have received a grand total of two dollars!

I think it is possible that I will receive more responses from the people that I mailed to. But even if I didn’t, let’s do some math and see how things should turn out if those two get the same response rate that I did (just under 1%). If those two got two, that got two, that got two… (you get the idea.) I could theoretically receive $254.00 down to the seventh level. I invested $328.00 in this experiment. Subtract $254.00 from that, and it would be a loss of $74.00. Not bad, actually, as some of my friends said that I probably wouldn’t even get ONE dollar in return. It is still early in the experiment. The letter said to expect gigantic returns with in 90 days. If I get my original $328.00 back, I will be pleased, and have the satisfaction of having participated in an experiment that will either prove how lucrative these programs are, or (more likely) how they are a waste of time and money. I know that I do not expect too much, but stay tuned for at least another 60 days and let’s see what happens!

I didn’t expect any responses for at least 7-10 days after mailing the letters. Imagine my surprise when I checked my mailbox last night and found TWO responses! I figured that if this chain letter, I mean capital accumulation program has any chance of producing a profit, I should have at least 5 people that respond to my letter with a dollar bill. So, just 4 days after I sent my letter, I already have TWO responses! I believe the reason I got these back so quickly is because they both come from cities that are within one-day mail delivery from where I live…

I eagerly opened the first envelope expecting to find my first one-dollar bill, and was disappointed to find that someone I had mailed my letter to had responded, not with a one-dollar bill, but with a different chain letter (oops, I keep calling it that!), I mean capital accumulation program letter. I opened the second letter, and found the same thing… :-((

So, the score so far after just FOUR DAYS is:

Two responses – no dollars – two appeals to join their capital accumulation program (CAP).

Well, the letters are on their way to 200 opportunity seekers. Here are some thoughts about this (in no particular order) that have crossed my mind:

1.) The letter states that this is not an illegal chain letter because you are offering something of value for the $1.00 fee. That something is adding the person’s name to your mailing list. The letter cites a regulation (TITLE 18, SEC 1302 & 1342 OF THE U.S. POSTAL AND LOTTERY LAWS).

2.) There were two names on the list that I bought from the mailing list company that were from Puerto Rico. I went ahead and sent them the letter, too. I am not familiar with mail to PR and the U.S Virgin Islands. I wonder if one of those two will respond?

3.) The mailing list company offered to email the list of 200 names to me in a data file (they actually sent over 250). I chose that option rather than asking them to mail me the list on address stickers. I was impatient to get this experiment going! The data file worked great! It was easy to print the addresses on the labels (Avery #5160).

4.) The $32.00 for the 200+ labels got me their 30-day hotlist labels. The company said that these names are guaranteed to be less than 30 days old, and that they are all people that have responded to some kind of opportunity seeker ad in the last 30 days.

5.) It will be interesting to see what kind of response I get from this list. I saved all the names, so any responses I get within the next four to six weeks, I can cross-check with the list and keep track. I will report this back in later posts.

6.) If this letter produces even a fraction of what it claims it should bring in ($800,000), this will be a LOT of one-dollar bills… Will my bank be willing to exchange them for larger bills, or even to take the time to count them when I deposit them in the bank?

7.) What kind of record keeping will work best for keeping track of the results and showing the cash income to report to the IRS?

8.) What would be the best and most profitable use of the list of names I get back along with the one-dollar bills?

9.) If this DOES eventually produce tens of thousands of letters coming in, how will the mailbox storefront react to this volume of mail coming into a medium sized mailbox? (DREAM ON!!!)

10.) Again, if this brings in a LOT of mail, it will be quite a job opening all the mail and entering each name in a spreadsheet…

My name is Dick Hollman. In September 2003, my car was repossessed. Bill collectors were hounding me like you wouldn’t believe. I was laid off and my unemployment insurance ran out. I was skeptical but I was desperate. I had nothing to lose, so I gave this a try. In January 2004, my family and I went on a 10-day cruise! In February, I bought a new Cadillac with cash! Today, I am currently building a second home in Virginia and I will never have to work again.

The program works perfectly. I have never failed to make $800,000 on each mailing. This is a legitimate business opportunity and a perfectly legal moneymaking program. It does not require you to sell anything or come in contact with anyone. Best of all, the only time you have to leave the house is to mail letters. And you could do that on the way to the grocery store! I’m sure you could use $800,000 in the next 20 to 90 days. Please study this letter carefully. THIS IS NOT A CHAIN LETTER!

This is a perfectly legal moneymaking opportunity. Follow the instructions EXACTLY!
1. IMMEDIATELY send $1.00 in a security envelope to each of the 7 names below and request the following: ‘PLEASE ADD ME TO YOUR MAILING LIST!” This is the step that makes the system legal!

2. Remove the name in the #1 position and move each of the other names up a place. (2 becomes 1, 3 becomes 2, etc.). Put your name in the 7th position. (An easy way to do this is to retype or print the 7 names with yours as number 7, on a separate piece of paper and tape over where the names are shown below).

3. After completing the above instructions, photocopy or print 200+ copies of this 3-page letter.

4. Purchase a mailing list of names from ADVANCED MARKETING SOLUTIONS. Specify that you want names of OPPORTUNITY SEEKERS. They sell a list of 250 names for $32.00. (500 names for $42.00). The best part is the names come on self-adhesive labels that you peel and stick to the envelope. Just call 1-800-748-5411 or go to http://www.advmarketingsolutions.com. This company accepts credit cards, which makes it convenient to get started. Make sure you ask for the 30-day Hot Line List (list less than 30 days old).

5. While waiting for the mailing list to arrive, place each of the 200+ (500 if you want the BIGGER BUCKS) copies into business-size envelopes and seal them (the peel and seal envelopes from Wal-mart are great). Go to your local post office and purchase 200+ of their 41-cent stamps and place them on the envelopes. (They sell them in rolls of 100 that are self-adhesive).

6. Once your list arrives, place an address label on each envelope and drop them in the mailbox. Within 20-90 days you should receive $800,000+ in cash. Now here is the interesting part– that is only a 7.5% RESPONSE RATE! (The first time I participated, I kept an accurate count of my letters and my response rate was 9.5% and the second time was over 11%.) THIS SYSTEM WAS MADE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACCUMULATING CAPITAL FAST AND HONESTLY. ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A CHAIN LETTER, but a perfectly legal moneymaking program. (REFER TO TITLE 18, SEC 1302 & 1342 OF THE U.S. POSTAL AND LOTTERY LAWS). When you send your 200+ copies of this letter and each responsive individual sends 200+ copies and sends you a dollar, your fortune multiplies rapidly.

At a conservative response, assume for example, you get a 7.5% response rate (my first attempt was about 9.5% and my second was 11%)

When you send out 200 letters, 15 people will send you $1.00………………………………………. $15.00
Those 15 people will mail out 200 letters each, 225 people respond with $1.00……………………..$225.00
Those 225 people will mail out 200 letters each, 3375 people respond with $1.00…………………$3375.00
Those 3375 people will mail out 200 letters each, 50265 people respond with $1.00………………$50265.00
Those 50625 people will mail out 200 letters each, 759375 people respond with $1.00…………$759375.00

EVENTUALLY YOUR NAME WILL MOVE TO THE TOP OF THE LIST AND THEN BE DROPPED FROM THE LIST ALTOGETHER, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE RECEIVED ROUGHLY $813,615 IN THE MEANTIME! ON THE ABOVE EXAMPLE, YOU STARTED WITH 200 @ A 7.5% RATE. I GUARANTEE THE MATH IS CORRECT. WITH THIS KIND OF RETURN YOU’VE GOT TO TRY IT!!

Here are a few tips that I’ve learned:
• After you’ve received your mailing labels, mail the letters ASAP while the list is still fresh.
• When you handle a lot of letters, an electric opener is great to have.
• File your responses alphabetically every day so you have your mailing list that you have the people who sent you $1.00 asked to be on. If you have a computer – all the better. If not, get one with your first responses.
• Stay cool! Keep your job until you have time to plan your next step.
• Give 10% of your income to a charitable cause.
• Save 10%, set aside 10% for your mail, 30% for bills, and at least 30% for taxes, and the rest to play with.
• Not enough? MAIL! MAIL! MAIL!

Note: when you send out those letters, you are in the mail order business. People are sending you $1.00 to be put on your list. This is a legal and helpful service. (See TITLE 18, SEC 1302 & 1342 OF THE U.S. POSTAL AND LOTTERY LAWS).

If you tried this type of system before and failed, it was probably because you mailed to your friends… No kidding! This time, get the mailing list of others who seek opportunity like yourself & share the business with your friends AFTER your success has proven it works.

I AM A BELIEVER AND TOTALLY CONVINCED IT WORKS!! (TESTIMONIALS)

“I’m naturally a skeptical person and I have received at least 35 letters similar to this one in a six month period. There was, however, something about this one that I liked. It took less investment than some others do and ALL participants receive money, not just the top one. Anyway, I sent out 200 letters and hoped for the best. Nothing happened for 11 days, but on the 12th day, I received $90. Over the next 4 to 5 months I received $600,000 in cash in the mail. I am doing it again with 1000 letters.” –J. Holtz

“I wanted to try a similar program which cost $5.00 for 5 names, plus much more expense which at the time I didn’t have enough capital to invest. The 1st time I sent the letters, I got many responses in 1 week. And after a short period of time I got well over $800,000! AND NOW I AM TRYING IT AGAIN! It really works…” — S. Frisch

“When I got the letter, I said ‘Yeah, sure!’ and I pitched it. Then later I remembered hearing skepticism breeds failure, while belief leads to success. So I rescued the letter, retyped it up fresh, and sent it out. Thank heavens I did. In a few months, I paid all the bills and cut my credit cards in half, as I didn’t need them. I love buying what I need (or want) without paying interest.”
–C. Hoffman

“Most successful plans today are based on a proven system and once you see how the system could work. But to actually benefit from it is a dream come true. I would like to thank all the people who believed in this system and helped me achieve and exceed the needed income to offset my personal financial woes.” –D. Brazdon

WE WILL INVEST IN LOTTERIES, ENTER SWEEPSTAKES, CLIP COUPONS, ETC. WE NEED TO INVEST IN ONE ANOTHER. MAYBE YOU ARE NOT IN NEED OF MONEY; THEN DO IT FOR SOMEONE ELSE… A NEIGHBOR, COLLEGE STUDENT, FAMILY, ECT. LET’S HELP EACH OTHER FULFILL OUR DREAMS AND FUTURES!”

Please Read!

Hello,

I have received the following information and if you will please take the time to read it, I believe it will be beneficial to you.

Dear Friends,

Greetings! I am a retired attorney. Approximately 2 years ago, a man came up to me with a letter similar to this one. He asked me to verify the fact that this was legal. I told him I would review it and get back to him. When I first read the letter a week and a half later, we met in my office to discuss the issue. I told him that the letter he originally brought to me was not 100% legal and advised him to make a small change to the letter.

I was still curious about the letter, so he proceeded to explain how the letter worked. I thought it was a long shot and decided against participating. However, before my client left, I asked him to keep me updated as his results. About 3 months later, he called to tell me that he had received over $800,000 IN CASH. I did not believe him. He suggested that I try his idea to find out for myself. I thought about it for a couple of days and decided that I didn’t have anything else to lose, so I asked him for a copy of the letter. I followed the instructions EXACTLY, mailed out 200 copies and sure enough the money started arriving. It came slowly at first, but after 3 weeks, I was getting more and more mail than I could open in a day. After 4 months, the money stopped coming in. I kept a precise record of my earnings and at the end, they totaled $968,493 IN CASH!

I was earning a good living as an attorney. However, as anyone in the legal profession will tell you, there is a lot of stress that comes with the job. I told myself that if things worked out, I would stay retired from my practice and play golf. I decided to try it again, but this time I sent out 500 letters. Well, 4 months later, my income totaled $2,344,178 IN CASH! I just couldn’t believe it. I met with my old friend for lunch to find out how it worked. He told me there are quite a number of similar letters like this going around. What makes this one different was the fact that there were 7 names on the list, not 5 names like many others. That fact alone results in many returns. The other part was in guaranteeing that the whole program was legal, since no one wants to risk participating in something illegal.

I’ll assume by now that you’re curious to know what the little change was that I told him to make. Well, if I sent a letter like this one, to be legal, you must actually be selling something if you expect to receive a dollar. I told him that anyone sending a dollar to him must expect to receive something in return. So when you send a dollar to each of the seven people on the list, you MUST include a slip of paper with the words “PLEASE PUT MY NAME ON YOUR MAILING LIST.” This is the key to the program. The dollar that you send to the seven names listed in this letter buys your name being put on each of these individuals’ mailing lists and the right to receive thousands of letters.

Now FOLLOW THE SIMPLE RULES ON PAGE 2 EXACTLY, and in less than 3 months, you should receive over $800,000 IN CASH!!

Have you ever opened your mail to find a three-page letter that began with a hard-luck story about a man that had his car repossesed and had scores of creditors making his life miserable until he participated in a ‘capital accumulation program’ that raised over $800,000 in cash in only 90 days? Well, more than one of these letters has hit my mailbox over the years, and in the past, I had always filed them in the ’round file’. Last week I got another one. I actually read the entire letter all the way through this time. I thought, why not give it a try?

Let me make this perfectly clear, I do NOT expect to make any money from this scheme… I have searched the web and have yet to find a story of anyone making a lot of money from a letter like this that sounds credible. But instead of just throwing rocks at it and declaring that this is a scam, why not invest a relatively small amount of money in this experiment and report what happens on the world wide web to all that are interested? I will be THRILLED to get my original investment back. I admit that I have bought lottery tickets before, so have tens of millions of others. Who knows, maybe I will make tens of dollars in this ‘capital appreciation program’ (BIG GRIN)…

The letter makes some pretty incredible claims. The man that starts off in the letter (the aforementioned hard-luck story) says his name is Dick Hollman. He followed the instructions of this letter exactly, and in less than 90 days, he claims to have received over $800,000 in cash in his mailbox. You may read the letter in the next post…

I did a little math and figured that it would cost $328.00 and a little bit of time to conduct this experiment… I decided to give it a try. This blog is intended to be a journal of sorts following what happens when following this ‘capital accumulation program’.

So, a mere $328.00 investment and a couple of hours stuffing envelopes. And I can expect $800,000 in about 90 days? I always heard that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is… This definitely fits in that category. I will show the letter in my next post so you may read it for yourself. I decided that $328.00 is a small enough sum to go ahead and try this experiment. Even if our friend Dick Hollman exaggerated by a magnitude of 100 times, I would consider $8,000 an excellent return on a $328.00 investment… ;-

I rented a mailbox because I did not want to use my home address for this letter, or to make it too easy for people to Google me and call me at home. That is also one reason that I decided to do this blog, if people look hard enough, they may find this blog and read about how this turns out. It seems apparent to me that most of the people on the list of seven names use their home address. If I had done that, I would have cut my expenses in half.

I mailed 200 of the letters in today’s mail. I will come back to post each time there is something of interest to report. It should be interesting… FINGERS CROSSED!